NTSB releases new findings about plane crash in Philadelphia
PHILADELPHIA -- The National Transportation Safety Board has released its preliminary report into the Northeast Philadelphia plane crash on Jan. 31 that left seven people dead.
In the report released Thursday, the NTSB said it was able to clean and repair the cockpit voice recorder, which was buried eight feet underground by the impact of the crash.
However, the NTSB said the recorder did not record the plane's final flight. Investigators went on to say it is likely the device had not been recording audio for several years.
The Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning System computer (EGPWS) was also recovered from the crash scene.
The NTSB said the device may contain flight data and was sent to the manufacturer for evaluation. Investigators said that evaluation is still ongoing.
The plane took off from the Northeast Philadelphia Airport, and the NTSB said the flight crew was in communication with the air traffic control tower at the time of the crash.
The NTSB said there was no distress call from the crew.
The crash left a debris field 1,410 feet long and 840 feet wide.
The number of fatalities remains at seven, and the number of injuries remains at 24. Of those, the NTSB said, four people were seriously injured while the other 20 suffered minor injuries.
There was nothing in the report about a potential cause of this crash. Those findings likely won't be released until the NTSB issues its final report, which may not come out for another year.
The Jet Rescue Air Ambulance went down on Cottman Avenue outside the Roosevelt Mall just before 6:10 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 31.
The crash sent a fireball into the sky and debris flying down the block.
All six people on board the plane were killed, as well as a man who was in his car on the ground at the time of the crash.
Philadelphia resident Steven Dreuitt, 37, was found dead inside a vehicle after the crash.
According to Dreuitt's family, his girlfriend and 9-year-old son, Ramesses Vazquez, were also in the car. The boy's mother told Action News in the days after the crash that Ramesses had burns to 90% of his body.
Six people on the plane were also killed, including a child patient and her mother. Also killed were the captain, co-pilot, a doctor and a paramedic.
All of the victims were from Mexico.
The patient, 11-year-old Valentina Guzmán Murillo, was being treated at Shriners Children's Hospital in Philadelphia for a condition not easily treated in Mexico, hospital officials have said.
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A total of 24 people were injured. The wounded include 10-year-old Trey Howard, who was seriously injured by flying debris.
His father, Andre, told Action News that Trey covered his little sister to protect her.
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Four homes were destroyed, six received major damage, and 11 received other damage. In all, 366 properties were impacted in some way, officials said.
The crash left a 8-foot crater in Cottman Avenue. The road was reopened to traffic just a few days afterward while repairs were underway.
